Chaeles e



BUNG;

Patented Mer. 15, 1892.

'CL R. MARTIN.

(N- Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. MARTIN, OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J OB SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

BUNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,011, dated March 15, Y1892.

Application led August 20,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Annapolis, in the county of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Bung, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to the closures for wooden packing and storing vessels-such as barrels-more popularly known as bungs;

. and the object of the same is to effect certain improvements therein whereby the air willbe admitted to barrels as the liquid therein is drawn off.

To this end the invention consists in a bung constructed substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of abarrel with my improved bungin place therein and closed by the fastening-strip. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the center of the bung, the closing-stri p, and a portion of the barrel. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the parts of the bung slightly separated.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter K designates a keg or barrel such as is used for containing beer and other like liquids which are to be drawn off slowly and at intervals as they are retailed, and which drawing off usually takes place through a spigot or cock C, driven into one end of the keg, as shown; but when the keg is filled at the brewery or other place the liquid is passed in through the bun hole, and the latter is then tightly closed by a bung B, preferably of Wood, and slightly tapering, as shown. It is well known that as the beer is drawn out through the cock air must be admitted to take the place of the beer drawn out, and this is usually done by withdrawing or removing the bung, to facilitate which the latter is not as securely fastened as is desirable and frequently becomes loose in transportation. The object of the present invention is to avoid this difliculty, and this I attain by constructing the bung as follows:

Vertically through the center of the bung I provide a hole I-I, preferably conically enlarged at its lower end, as at E, and across the facture and easy of use.

1891. Serial No. 403,216. (No model.)

lower end of the bung by staples S, I secure a rubber strap R. This strap has at its center, which is free to bend downwardly, an upwardlyrising enlargement or projection P, which is integral-that is, of soft rubber like the strap-whereby the projection will closely iit the enlargement E and prevent the'escape of gas.

The keg having been lled, the bung constructed as described is driven into place in the usual manner, and when any of the contents is withdrawn through the cock air passes downwardly through the hole H, forces the strap away from its lower end, and gains an entrance into the interior of the keg to take the place of the liquid drawn out. Still, the expansion of the gases within the keg cannot at any time cause any fluid to escape, because the strap stands normally across the hole and closes the same from its inner end, thus acting as a check-valve. This normal closing of the hole, while it is caused by the expansive force of such liquors as create gas in their fermentation, is not due solely to that fact, because the rubber strap is preferably slightly stretched before it is put under the staples, so that its normal tendency will be to assume a straight line, which would throw the projection into the lower end of the hole.

When this improved bung is used, I preferably secure by nails N across the upper end of the hole and on top of the bung ametallic strip M to prevent the rubber being pierced, and on this strip may be and preferably are inscribed the words Raise this tin and use n'o vent, or other similar directions. This strip will serve to indicate to the retailer the manner in which the keg is to be used when provided with my improved bung.

The device is extremely simple in manu- It may be applied to barrels, kegs, and bungs now in use, and it will meet a long-felt want. I reserve the right to make such changes in the details of construction as may come within the spirit of my invention.

What is claimed as the salient features is- A bung having an opening extending through it, and a softrubber band arranged on the inner end of the bung and. having` its my own I have hereto aixed my signature in ends secured to Jhe same and provided int-erpresence of two Wltnesses.

mediate its ends and on its inner face with 1 A 1 an integral conical projection arranged to CHARLES R' MAR'I IN' 5 close the inner end of the bL1ng-opening,slib Witnesses:

stantially as described. J As. R. BRASHEARS,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as J. ROLAND BRADY. 

